Eggs the perfect canvas for creative imaginations

Thursday

Mar 26, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 26, 2009 at 5:22 PM

Could there be anything more fun to do in a kitchen than coloring Easter eggs? Not likely! Approach Easter egg coloring with the same vigor as an artist approaches a blank canvas. The eggs are, after all, a miniature canvas in the round. The white sheen is inviting and open to nearly any color combination or design pattern the imagination can stir up – from whimsical to conventional to really unusual.

Lori Kilchermann

Could there be anything more fun to do in a kitchen than coloring Easter eggs? Not likely!

Approach Easter egg coloring with the same vigor as an artist approaches a blank canvas. The eggs are, after all, a miniature canvas in the round. The white sheen is inviting and open to nearly any color combination or design pattern the imagination can stir up – from whimsical to conventional to really unusual.

McCormick offers the following how-to guide to help let your creativity shine this Easter:

Tie-dye eggs

Place several eggs in a colander in the kitchen sink. Splash eggs with vinegar. Drop yellow food color onto eggs. Gently shake the colander for a few seconds to help the color spread. Let stand 30 seconds. Repeat with one or two additional food colors. After the final stand time, lightly rinse eggs with water. Drain completely. Allow eggs to dry.

Marbleized eggs

Mix 1/4 cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon oil and four to eight drops food color in shallow bowl. Make sure to agitate dye with a fork or small whisk so oil droplets are small. Gently roll egg in the mixture for 30 seconds, or until the egg is the desired shade. Transfer the egg to a second color mixture, and repeat the process. Allow the egg to dry completely. Wipe away excess oil with a paper towel.

Eggs with designs

- Rubber bands: Before dyeing, wrap rubber bands around the eggs. Use a combination of thick and thin rubber bands. Wrap them lengthwise and crosswise around eggs. Dip in dye as directed. Remove egg from dye and dry on paper towels. Remove rubber bands.

As a variation, remove some of the rubber bands. Dye in a second color. It’s recommended to use a lighter color for the second color. For example, use medium blue for first dye, then pink or yellow for second dye. Remove egg from dye and dry on paper towels. Remove remaining rubber bands.

- Stickers or reinforcements: Before dyeing, place stickers such as chicks, rabbits, flowers or other springtime favorites, or paper reinforcements on the eggs. Dip in dye as directed. Remove egg from dye and dry on paper towels. Remove stickers or reinforcements.

Two-toned eggs

Prepare as many colored dyes as desired in cups. (You will want to use a shallow bowl for this so that the depth of the dye only reaches halfway on the egg.) Holding egg lengthwise, dip the egg into the dye for five minutes. You need to hold the egg up so that only the bottom half remains in the dye. Remove egg from dye and dry on paper towels.

Dip undyed half of egg in second color, repeating the process so that only the undyed half is in the dye. As a variation, you can also leave a band of undyed white around the middle of the egg.

Personalized eggs

Write initials or names, or draw pictures on the egg with a white or light colored crayon before dyeing.

Lori Kilchermann is a confessed foodie and a writer for The Journal-Standard. Recipes, stories and tips are always welcome. She may be reached at lkilchermann@journalstandard.com or The Journal-Standard, P.O. Box 330, Freeport IL 61032.